St Patrick’s Day: Green and Guinness in the Garden City
It was never going to be too early for a pint when St Patrick’s Day arrived.
Irish bars around Christchurch celebrated the biggest day on their calendars yesterday, opening as early as 8am serving Guinness and Irish breakfasts to punters honouring Ireland’s patron saint.
Dubliner Tom Faran was one of the first at The Little Fiddle on The Terrace at 8am wearing a green shamrock suit he bought in America a few years ago.
“It’s the only time you can get away with wearing nonsense,” he said.
And it was a day made more special for the Irish, he said, because Ireland won the men’s rugby union Six Nations Championship just hours before he swilled his first Guinness.
“It’s a nice icing on the cake.”
Foran and and his friend had drunk several pints before midday.
“You enjoy your time with it and talk – like a little cup of tea but a bit more fun.”
The Little Fiddle owner Craig Ling said St Patrick’s Day was “a big tradition – people are very patriotic”, with many Kiwis having Irish ancestors somewhere up the line.
What made the day unique was that it was celebrated on the same day around the world, he said.
“It’s a day where everyone is happy. We’ve never had trouble on St Patrick’s Days.”
A branded Guinness glass sat on nearly every table in the pub, some still showing the thin white head yet to be downed.
Based on last year’s figures, Ling expected to sell about 4000 pints of Guinness before shutting the doors on Sunday night.
On Worcester St, it was The Church pub’s first St Patrick’s Day since opening, allowing punters to spill over from the small Paddy McNaughton’s Old Ale House and into the renovated former Trinity Church.
The Church was serving Guinness on tap for the first time, venue manager Zak Cooper said, and it would only happen once a year.
He estimated the two bars together would go through about 20 kegs, each holding 94 pints.
Darren Curtis was at The Church, contributing to his Guinness Pint Club membership, having already reached 100 pints nearly 20 times over, he said.
Curtis was getting into the spirit of the day with a painted shamrock on his cheek and a large green hat.
“I look Irish, but I’m a Kiwi. My parter is Irish.”
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